Looking for some good, educational bedtime reading for your children? You’ve come to the right place! We’ve curated a collection of the 9 best stories about envy for kids to read online. From toddlers in their early years foundation stage (EYFS) to preschoolers, kindergarten tots, and elementary students, these tales are perfect for everyone. Best of all, these stories are absolutely free to read and download.

Our comprehensive collection consists of both short stories to tell and longer narratives, all featuring the classic theme of envy. These stories are an enjoyable way to teach our kids about the virtues and vices associated with this powerful emotion. From classic fairy tales to lesser-known fables, we’ve searched high and low to bring the best stories about envy right to your fingertips.

These stories come in various formats to cater to all preferences. If your little ones love looking at vibrant illustrations as they listen to you narrate the story, we’ve got versions with pictures. For those who prefer to read along, we offer a downloadable pdf, as well as printable versions for offline reading. If you are on the go, or you would rather have the stories read to you, we have an audio format that you can play for a fun story time or to help your children fall asleep at night. The audio stories are perfect for kids learning English, as they can follow the words while listening to the narration.

Whether you have girls or boys, these stories will captivate their imagination while also imparting moral lessons. Envy is a common feeling, but through these stories, children can learn to understand and manage it. They will see how envy can lead to unfortunate situations, teaching them the importance of contentment, gratitude, and the dangers of coveting what others have.

The beauty of stories is that they can serve as a fun, engaging way to discuss important life lessons with our children. So, get ready to embark on these wonderful literary journeys during the night time, just before sleep. It’s story time, so snuggle up and let these tales of envy unfold.

Happy reading (and listening)!

Top 9 Stories About Envy:

1. Cinderella:Once upon a time, a sweet little girl named Cinderella lived with her wealthy businessman father and her mean stepmother and stepsisters. They mistreated Cinderella and made her do all the chores, but she remained kind and never complained. When her father went on a trip, Cinderella asked for a twig, which she planted on her mother’s grave. A magical hazel tree grew from the twig, and a little white bird granted Cinderella’s wishes. When the king threw a three-day party to find a bride for the prince, Cinderella’s stepmother forbade her from attending. But with the help of the bird, she received a beautiful dress and went to the ball. The prince fell in love with her but couldn’t find her when she escaped at midnight. This happened again on the second night, but on the third night, the prince ensured Cinderella couldn’t escape by making the stairs sticky. As she fled, she lost her shoe, which the prince found. He searched for the girl whose foot fit the shoe, and when it fit Cinderella perfectly, he recognized her. They got married, and Cinderella lived happily ever after.
2. The Boy With The Moon On His Forehead: Once there was a king with six childless queens, and he decided to marry a seventh wife in hopes of having children. He heard about a poor woman with a beautiful daughter and overheard their conversation about the daughter’s potential to bear twins. Intrigued, the king married the daughter and gave her a golden bell, instructing her to ring it when she gave birth. The six jealous queens persuaded her to ring the bell prematurely, angering the king. When the child was due, she rang the bell, but the king did not come. The jealous queens threw her out of the palace and had the midwife remove the babies, replacing them with puppies. The babies ended up with a kind potter and his wife, who raised them as their own. Years later, the boy with a moon on his forehead and the stars on his palms encountered the king while hunting, but he ran away. The king learned of the twins’ existence and investigated, leading to the downfall of the six queens. The seventh queen was restored to her rightful place, and the twins lived happily ever after.
3. The Peacock: once a plain bird, received stunning feathers from Juno, the goddess. Proud of his beauty, he paraded among the birds, evoking envy and admiration. However, when he saw an Eagle soaring in the sky, he longed to fly but was hindered by the weight of his elaborate feathers. Instead of enjoying the freedom of flight, he was burdened and confined to the ground, realizing that his ostentatious appearance came at the cost of his mobility and true freedom.
4. The Plaid Trousers Of Mr. Raccoon: Mr. Tim Raccoon possessed a pair of enviable red-and-green plaid trousers that made everyone in the woods jealous, particularly Mr. Fox. Determined to acquire the trousers for himself, Mr. Fox attempted to persuade Tim to part with them but failed. One day, while contemplating a plan, Mr. Fox stumbled upon a piece of paper mentioning the word “wool.” This gave him an idea, and he painted the seat of his rocking chair and invited Tim over. As expected, Tim accidentally sat on the wet paint, creating a black stain on his trousers. Mr. Fox offered to help clean the trousers, sending Tim on errands to fetch soap and boiling water. However, the recipe proved disastrous, as the trousers shrank and became unwearable. Tim returned to Mr. Fox, displaying the ruined trousers, and Mr. Fox feigned sympathy. Although the trousers were ruined, Mr. Fox was satisfied as long as Tim was not able to wear them.
5. Cupid And Psyche: In a kingdom, there lived a king with three daughters, the youngest of whom was exceptionally beautiful. The goddess Aphrodite, envious of the girl’s beauty, devised a plan to cause her harm. With the help of her son Cupid, Aphrodite aimed to make Psyche fall in love with an unworthy man. However, Cupid, captivated by Psyche’s beauty, refused to carry out his mother’s plan. Despite being adored by men, Psyche remained unmarried, as they believed she was too beautiful for them. Concerned, the king consulted an oracle, which prophesied that Psyche would face a dreadful fate. Following the oracle’s instructions, Psyche was left alone on a rock to be devoured by a monster. However, Cupid intervened, carrying her to a luxurious palace where she lived in bliss, yet never seeing her husband’s face. Psyche’s sisters visited her, and out of envy, they filled her mind with doubts about her husband’s true identity. Psyche, overcome by curiosity, attempted to see her husband’s face while he was sleeping but accidentally spilled hot wax on him, causing him to flee. Heartbroken, Psyche embarked on a quest to find her husband, enduring trials set by Aphrodite. With the help of creatures and objects, Psyche successfully completed each task. Eventually, Cupid healed and sought forgiveness from the gods on Psyche’s behalf, leading to her ascension to Olympus and reunion with her beloved.
6. The Flute: In the city of Yedo, a man and his loving wife, unable to have sons, cherished their daughter O’Yoné. When her mother passed away, the man remarried a wicked woman who despised O’Yoné’s affection. The stepmother harbored intense jealousy and plotted revenge against the girl. When the man had to travel to Kyoto, O’Yoné begged to accompany him, but he refused. She gave him a handmade bamboo whistle as a keepsake. In Kyoto, the man discovered the whistle and played it, hearing the voice of his daughter pleading for him to return. Overwhelmed with fear, he rushed back home to find his daughter dead and his stepmother responsible. Filled with grief, he sought justice and then embarked on a pilgrimage, carrying the small flute close to his heart.
7. The Vain Jackdaw And His Borrowed Feathers: A Jackdaw chanced to fly over the garden of the King’s palace. There he saw with much wonder and envy a flock of royal Peacocks in all the glory of their splendid plumage. Now the black Jackdaw was not a very handsome bird, nor very refined in manner. Yet he imagined that all he needed to make himself fit for the society of the Peacocks was a dress like theirs. So he picked up some castoff feathers of the Peacocks and stuck them among his own black plumes. Dressed in his borrowed finery he strutted loftily among the birds of his own kind. Then he flew down into the garden among the Peacocks. But they soon saw who he was. Angry at the cheat, they flew at him, plucking away the borrowed feathers and also some of his own. THE VAIN JACKDAW The poor Jackdaw returned sadly to his former companions. There another unpleasant surprise awaited him. They had not forgotten his superior airs toward them, and, to punish him, they drove him away with a rain of pecks and jeers.
8. Richard And Blondel: Richard I, King of England, finds himself imprisoned in a foreign land after being betrayed by envious kings. In his dark cell, he hears a familiar song sung beneath his window and recognizes the voice of his loyal friend, Blondel. Richard sings the song in response, and Blondel joyfully confirms his identity. With Blondel’s help, Richard’s location is revealed to the people, leading to his release and triumphant return to England.
9. A Kidnapped Santa Claus: Santa Claus lives in the Laughing Valley, where he and his diligent team of ryls, knooks, pixies, and fairies manufacture toys for children all year round. The valley is a happy place, filled with joy and contentment. However, there are Daemons who despise Santa Claus because he brings happiness to children. These Daemons hold a meeting and plot to capture Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve, they succeed in kidnapping him and imprisoning him in their mountain caves. Meanwhile, Santa’s loyal helpers, Nuter, Peter, Kilter, and Wisk, continue to deliver the toys to children in Santa’s absence. The Fairy Queen learns of Santa’s capture and promises her assistance. With the help of the little immortals, they distribute the toys but remain worried about Santa’s fate. The Daemon of Repentance, feeling remorseful, sets Santa Claus free and guides him to safety. Santa Claus is reunited with his helpers, and they plan to punish the Daemons. However, Santa Claus decides against seeking revenge and embraces the love and support he received from his loyal friends and magical creatures. The Daemons, realizing their failure, never again try to interfere with Santa’s Christmas Eve journey.

In conclusion, this captivating collection of stories, perfect for bedtime reading, offers an excellent way for kids to learn about the nature of envy, its potential consequences, and how to deal with it. Whether you’re teaching in a classroom, sharing story time with toddlers, or trying to help your preschoolers or kindergarteners wind down for the night, these nine stories are a fantastic resource. Downloadable, printable, or ready to read aloud online, these tales teach invaluable lessons about contentment and gratitude, all wrapped up in fun and classic narratives. As your children venture through these tales, they will not only improve their English and comprehension skills but also cultivate an understanding of this complex emotion and its place in their lives. Happy storytelling!